Rio Ferdinand issued clear update
Liverpool FC won’t be docked points by the Premier League despite making more than five substitutions during their 3-1 win over Southampton. A turgid first-half display by the Reds was compounded by Will Smallbone scoring in injury time, but Arne Slot turned the tide by sending on three new players after the interval.
Alexis Mac Allister, Andy Robertson, and Harvey Elliott all entered the fray. It paid dividends as Darwin Nunez levelled within minutes of the restart before a Mo Salahpenalty made it 2-1. Salah later sealed the win with another goal from the spot, by which time Diogo Jota and Wataru Endo had also come off the bench.
However, with time running out, the Egyptian suddenly cut an exasperated figure when he noticed Jarrel Quansah was being prepared to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold. Salah tried to protest the substitution to the coaching staff but Slot defied his key man by sending the defender on for a mere 90 seconds of play.
The Dutchman knew exactly what he was doing, though. Premier League rules permit both sides involved in a match to make six changes, instead of the regulation five, if a player has to leave the field under concussion protocols.
In only the 19th minute, Southampton captain Jan Bednarek was forced off with a head injury and replaced by Armel Bella-Kotchap. Salah clearly lost sight of that development, but not the Liverpool coaching staff.
It’s not the first time that the rule has been utilised in England’s top flight this season. On the opening weekend, Tottenham exploited the loophole in their 1-1 draw with Leicester after Rodrigo Bentacur was forced off following a blow to the head.
By that point, Ange Postecoglou had opted to make four substitutes, and he made two more changes in the 92nd minute. Like at Anfield today, it led to question marks, although it was back in February 2021 when Premier League clubs agreed to introduce additional permanent concussion substitutions.
